Axially movable valve plug



Patented Apr. 14 1953 AXIALLY MOVABLE VALVE PLUG Lucien W. Mueller and Frederick Tratzik, Dc-

catur, 111., assignors to Mueller 00., Decatur, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application December 23, 1946, Serial No. 717,982

1 The present invention relates to valves.

Objects of the invention are to provide valves which may be economically constructed, will provide an extremely efiicient seal in a flow line under pressure, and which readily can be operated even when used under extremely high line pressure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure l is an axial section through a valve of the present invention, and

' Figure 2 is a fragmentary view, also in axial section, showing a modification of the Figure 1 device.

Referring to Figure 1, the numeral l designates the valve casing which is provided with a flow passageway including an inlet 12 and an outlet |3. A cylindrical valve seat bore l4 extends transversely of the flow passageway One end of the bore I4 is closed by a plate or cap I6 which may be held in place by bolts or the like. The ca |6 is provided with a centrally positioned socketed stud I! for a purpose hereinafter described.

The opposite end 20 of the seat bore M is closed by a bossed plate 2| secured to the casing by bolts, as shown. Plate 2| includes a bore 23 of substantially smaller diameter than the seat bore M.

A plug 25 is mounted in the seat bore I4, the plug including a flow port 26. The plug is illustrated with a layer '2'! of a resilient material, such as rubber, applied to its seating surface and also to the flow port 26. i v

The end 29 of the plug which is adjacent the cap plate I6 is provided with an integral tapered projection or pin 29 adapted to engage the socket of stud H. A coil spring. 30 which surrounds the stud IT has one end bearing upon the inner surface of the plate l6 and its opposite end bearing upon a washer 3| which surrounds projection29. The spring 30 is sufficiently strong that it will normally hold the plug 25 in such position that the conical surface 32 of the projection 29 will be out of contact with the opposed conical surface of the socket 33 in stud ll. This will cause operating connections provided at the opposite. end 34 of the plug 25 to be held in close engagement with an operating arrangement described immediately below.

The end 34 of plug 25 adjacentthe bossed plate 2| is provided with an operating connection which cooperates with a similar structure formed on the inner end of an operating stem 36 rotatable in the plate 2|. The operating connection Claims. (01. 251-97) on the plug includes a pair of diametrically opposed and circumferentially extending concave cam surfaces 31 and 38, each of which is of V- shaped form. The cam surfaces 31 and38 each extend through an arc of somewhat less than as illustrated in Figure 1, and the ends of these surfaces join a fiat, surface 99. "It will thereby be understood that two diametrically opposite flat surfaces 39 ,are provided, one of which is illustratedin Figure '1. As is typified by the fiat surface 39 appearing in Figure lfeach of the two flat surfaces 39 includes a recess 40 intermediate its length. As is, the case in the corresponding structure illustrated in the application for Valves of Walter J. Bowan'and Frederick Tratzik, Serial No. 611,465, filed August 20, 1945, Patent'No. 2,510,494, issued June 6, 1950, the cam surfaces 31 and 38, the fiat surfaces 39 and the diametrically opposed recesses 40, are all arranged about a circle concentric with the longitudinal axis of the plug, with the deepest points on the cams 31 and 38 positioned on a line which is at right angles to the center lineof the recesses 40 and parallel with the axis of the plug flow port 26. I

' The operating stem 36 isrotatable in a collar 4| threaded in the bossed plate 2| and includes an inner enlarged end portion 42. A bearing assembly 43 is positioned between the inner end of the collar 4| and the outer surface of the enlarged portion 42 of stem 36. The inner end of the enlarged stem portion 42 is provided with V- shaped concave cam surfaces 45 and 46 arranged diametrically opposite each other with a flat surface 41 between them and a projection 48 is provided intermediatethe ends of eachlflat surface 47. .l A roller 59 is positioned between the opposed cam surfaces 31 and 45 anda second roller 591s positioned between the opposed cam surfaces 38 and 46. These rollers are tapered to conform to the surfaces of the cams and are rounded at their outer ends so that they will havea single point bearing upon the inner cylindrical, surface. of a holding ring 5| which fits about the inner end of the stem 36.

' The sidesurfaces of the recesses 40 on the plug and the projections 48 on the operating stem extend along lines which are radial with respect to the longitudinal axis of the plug. V

. In operation,the plug 25 will be held in such position by the spring 29 that the plug cam surfaces 31 and 38 will be held in firm contact with the rollers 50 and the latter will be in firm engagement with the camsurfaces 45 and 46 of the operating element or -stem 3 6, In order to rotate the plug from the open position shown in Figure 1 to a closed position, the operator will apply a tool to the stem 36 to rotate the latter. Because line pressure will not exert any considerable resistance during at least the initial portion of closing movement of the plug, the initial rotationof. stem 36 will. readily cause the cam: surfaces 45 and 46' of the stem to move the rollers 50 along the opposed cam surfaces 31 and 38 of the plug, thereby rotating the rollers out of the deepest portions or apices of the opposed V- shaped cams so that the plug will be slightly moved in an axial direction against the force. exerted by the spring 30, Then the leading radial surface of each projection 48 will contact with the opposed radial surface of the corre-.

sponding recess 40 so that the'plu'gwill'be'posi tively rotated by the engagement of these: radial.

surfaces.

.When the plug has reached. closedv position,v the operator may rotate thev operating stem. 35' very'sli'ghtlyin the reverse direction so that the deepest portions. of the cam. surfaces 45 and 46 will be in engagement. with the rollers 50 and the projections 48 willbepositioned intermediate. the recesses 40, viz.,. the relationship-illustrated in Figure 1. It will be understood that during the above rotation of the plug, from open to closed. position the axial movement of the plug,

will cause the central proj 29 move slightly further into the. socket ll. However, because the line pressure will not substantially retard the rotation of. the plug from. open to closed position, the seating surface l4 of the valve casing, will primarily serve-as the journal.

on. which the plug rotates. v

' Rotation. of the plug may: be-limitecl to 90" by, stop means provided on the plug and casing andnot illustrated in the drawing.

- It has been pointed out above that only relato be-cantedtowardthesoutletport l3i. Inthe" valve disclosed, the. rollersv 50f will actv as a pivoting. surface for such' canting; because in' closed position of the plug these rollers will extend along, a line transverseito the flow ports 12: and l-3.. As a:result,.the:longitudinal axisof the plug will be tilted: with respect to the longitudinal axis of thevalve casing. seatibore M so that the plugp'rojectionlil will be closest-to the portion of the surface of socket 33' which is nearest thev outlet port I3; Furthermore, the portion of the. resilient covering 21- of the: plug which is within the outlet port l3 will be: pressed into the mouth of thatoutlet. In effect, this portion of. the resilient covering: will form a slight hump or projection w-ithin the: outlet [3. The pres ence of this hump-as well as the fact that the plug is tilted and strongly urged toward the outlet l3 by the line pressure, makes closing movement relativelydifficult and may also cause the resilient covering to be-scratched or marred during opening movement.

The above resistance to rotation from closed bodily moved toward the cap plate l6.

position and the marring of the resilient covering are obviated by the present invention. In more detail, when the operating stem 36 is initially rotated to move the plug from closed position, one incline of each stem cam surface 45 and 46 will move over the rollers 50 and also cause the rollers to roll out of the apices of the plug" cam surfaces 31 and 38. This action will occur because, during this initial rotation of the .stem 36, the plug will resist rotation due to the canting. action being exerted upon it by the line pressure. However, the fact that the rollers 5| aremoved out of the apices of the stem and plug: cam surfaces will result in the plug being Because the-projection or. pin,29 is already closest to the portion of socket 3'3"c1osest to the outlet port l3, this generally axial movement of the plug will cause these opposed portions of the projection 29 and socket 33- to' actually come. into contact. Therefore, further axial movement of the plug will simply cause the projection 29 to move deeper into the socket 33 so that the axis of the plug will now be'brought into coincidence with the axis of the casing seat M.

In other words, the axial movement of theand conical plug projection 29 to guide or move the plug to. a position wherein the plug axis is coincident with the seat bore axis, thereby with- 29 then maintaining this position.

In order to prevent leakage. between the. operating stem 36 and the collar 41,, a sealing element 55 of the type known asan O'-ring. is positioned in a circumferential. groove 56 formed in the stem 35. O-rings are annular, endless" and formed of resilient material. They have the characteristic that when exposed to pressure at any point of; their radial cross section, they'tend to fill up the space in which they are fitted, provided that the space is. of a difierent radial section from the O-ring.

. For example, the O-ring 55 is-normally round in. radial section; and the walls of the groove 56 define a space which is rectangular in radial section. Assuming now that pressure flows out-- wardly between the stem 36' and the bore 23 of. collar 4|, this pressurewill act'uponthe'p'op tion of theO-ring 55 which is illustratedaslowermost in Figure Lcausingthat surface to fiat-- en. Flattening of the O-ring will cause it. to expandalong' a li'ne'normal to the direction of pressure. Therefore; the ring will. closely engagev the inner surface: of. the bore 2 3 and.- the inner surfac'e'of the groove 58 to form atight ing socket 33 in stud I! on the valve casing. That is, the plug 25 must be free for enough axial movement to accommodate the axial motion which will be applied thereto by the retation of the operating stem. It may be that when the collar 4| is threaded inwardly to only a sufi'icient distance to provide for this axial movement of the plug, O-ring 51 will not be tightly compressed in a vertical direction as viewed in Figure 1. However, because of the characteristics of an O-ring set forth above in connection with the O-ring 55, any leakage along the threads of the collar M will simply cause the O-ring 51 to expand in a direction normal to the line of pressure flow so that a seal will be maintained between the plate 2| and collar 4|.

Figure 2 shows a modified form of plug centering structure which is identical with that of Figure 1 except that the element 29a, corresponding to the pin or projection 29 of Figure 1, is formed separately from the plug. In more detail, element 29a fits within a resiliently covered recess 60 in the plug and spring 30 bears upon a flange 6| provided on the element 291a. By this construction, the plug may be coated with resilient material in the usual manner and without having to take any special action to prevent covering the projection, as would be the case with the Figure 1 structure. The element 29a is also shown provided with a central axial passage 62 for entrapped air.

The operation of the Figure 2 form of projection and socket is identical with that of Figure 1.

It will be understood that the conical projections 29 and 29a of Figures 1 and 2, respectively, are concentric with the axes of the respective plugs, while the cooperating conical recesses are concentric with the axes of the respective casing seat bores.

The terminology used in the specification is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

We claim:

1. In a valve, a casing including a seat bore and a flow passage extending transversely of the seat bore, a ported plug rotatable in and capable of a slight radial movement relative to the seat bore. an operating stem at one end of the plug and projecting out of the casing, coacting driving connection means carried at the opposed ends of the plug and operating stem, said means being so operatively connected that the plug carried means and plug may pivot with respect to the stem carried means about a line radial of the seat bore, and coacting means at the opposite end of the plug and seat bore operable upon actuation of said operating means to guide the plug from a canted position with respect to the seat bore and to such position that the plug axis will be positioned substantially in coincidence with the axis of the seat bore.

2. A valve of the character described in claim 1 wherein a seating surface is covered with resilient material.

3. A valve of the character described in claim 1 wherein the means to guide the plug from a canted position with respect to the seat bore comprises conical pin means and conical socket means, with one of said means carried by the plug and the other of said means carried by the casing.

4. A valve of the character described in claim 3 wherein the seating surface is covered with resilient material.

5. In a valve, a casing provided with a flow passageway and a seat bore extending transversely of the passageway, a plug including a flowport rotatably mounted in the seat bore, said plug being capable of a slight radial movement relative to the seat bore, a member rotatable in the casing at one end of the plug to engage and rotate the plug and move it axially of the seat bore, and cooperating means at the opposite end of the plug and casing to guide the plug to a position to bring the plug axis into substantial coincidence with the seat bore axis upon actuation of said operating means, said cooperating means comprising a conical pin element and conical socket element, with one of said elements carried by the plug and the other of said elements carried by the casing.

LUCIEN W. MUELLER. FREDERICK TRATZIK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 574,571 Pollock Jan. 5, 1897 2,139,632 Flodin Dec. 6, 1938 2,222,626 Mueller Nov. 26, 1940 2,251,481 Corbin Aug. 5, 1941 2,285,222 Mueller June 2, 1942 

